Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 31, 2018

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

Regulation Reminders

• Anglers are reminded to review Emergency Orders and News Releases and the 2018 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the Northern Cook Inlet Area before heading out on their next fishing trip. The Regulation Summary booklet is available on the ADF&G website, ADF&G offices, and local vendors.
• Anglers are reminded that flowing waters in the Palmer-Wasilla Zone are CLOSED to all fishing until June 15.
• Many flowing waters along the Parks Highway are catch-and-release only for rainbow trout until June 15.
• Anglers are advised that, in an effort to meet king salmon escapement goals in the Susitna River and Little Susitna River drainages, the following sport fishing restrictions are in effect May 1 – July 13:

Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-2-10-18, effective May 1, 2018, for Units 1-6 of the Susitna River drainage:

• Sport fishing for king salmon (of any size) is open to catch-and-release in the Deshka and Yentna rivers.
• Sport fishing for king salmon is closed in the remainder of the Susitna River drainage.
• Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed in the Susitna River drainages. Single-hook means a fish hook with only one point. Treble hooks and more than one single-hook are prohibited.
• Fishing for other species, including trout, will be allowed seven days per week, this includes the waters within Unit 2 that are normally closed during the king salmon season.

Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-2-09-18, effective May 1, 2018, for the Little Susitna drainage:

• Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed in the Little Susitna River drainage. Single-hook means a fish hook with only one point. Treble hooks and more than one single-hook are prohibited.
• Fishing for king salmon is allowed; however, king salmon may only be retained on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in the Little Susitna River drainage. King salmon may not be retained on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and any king salmon caught on these days may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
• The annual limit of two king salmon 20 inches or longer is areawide. The total annual limit of king salmon 20 inches or longer taken from fresh waters of Cook Inlet remains at five, which only two may be from the Little Susitna River drainage.
• The Eklutna Tailrace is excluded from all king salmon emergency order restrictions.
• Anglers are reminded that on the little Susitna River, a person may not sport fish from a boat that is powered by use of a motor, unless the motor is a 4-stroke motor or direct fuel injection 2-stroke motor. Anglers may use a boat powered by a non-direct fuel injected 2-stroke motor to access areas to sport fish from the bank but may not sport fish from the boat.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• The Little Susitna and Deshka weirs are in operation; fish counts are available on online.
• Catch-and-release king salmon fishing has been good at the mouth of the Deshka.
• Fishing has been slow on the Little Su; spring melt off has the water up and dirty.
• No kings have been reported yet at the Eklutna Tailrace but are expected any day now.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Parks Highway streams, including Willow Creek and streams to the north, should provide fair action for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic Grayling this week. Some of these streams remain on the high side due to continued spring melt off. Try fishing fly patterns with a beaded head or leech patterns.
• Anglers are reminded that Deception Creek is closed to all fishing until June 15.

Northern Pike

• Northern pike may be found in shallow, grassy waters where they are spawning. At this time, many pike have finished spawning and are beginning to feed aggressively while still in the shallows. Try top-water lures or weedless leeches. This is also a good time to try fishing with a bow and arrow.
• For road-accessible pike fishing try the Nancy Lake Recreation Area lakes, Big, Prator, and Memory lakes.
• Take a spring boat trip on the Susitna and try fishing the side channel sloughs of the Deshka River, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough), or Moose and Indian creeks on the Yentna River.

Lake Fishing

• The stocking truck has been extremely busy moving fish this week. Lake fishing is of course, excellent.
• If you want a 4-wheel adventure, try Ruby, and Wishbone Lakes.
• Anglers can visit the ADF&G Hatcheries and Stocking webpage for more information regarding when and where fish are stocked.

Personal Use

• Hooligan fishing has slowed, and the run appears to be winding down. Try the lower Yentna River and dip them while you can. There is no bag or possession limit for personal use hooligan.
• This is a personal-use fishery and only Alaska residents can participate. No permit is required, but you do need a valid 2018 Alaska resident sport fishing license or an ADF&G Permanent fishing license ID card with you.